Showing Up

You arrive at work; stop to get coffee, two creams, and one sugar just like you do each day. You walk past the same cubicles, turn on your computer, wave hi to the same four people, and start your normal day at work. Nine hours later, you head home, and drive the same route you do each normal day. You wake up at 5am, start the coffee, wake up the kids, let out the dog, feed the cat, and make lunches. Kids are off to school around 7:30am, now onto errands. Most of us would qualify our lives as normal or ordinary. Nothing crazy goes on; we have a rhyme and rhythm to each day, which is pretty regular. Today is not an ordinary day though, today you may be the answer to someone’s prayer, and you may not even know it.

We know Scripture tells us that “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8 ESV) God hears our prayers and answers them but often in ways and places that we did not plan on. Did you ever think that the woman you held the door open for was praying for a break after a tough meeting at work? You “happened” on the way home from work to call your sibling, who felt lonely and was praying for company, for someone to listen to them, someone to be with them. Each day we are presented with is a chance to be an answer to someone’s prayers. Sometimes we can be an answer to that prayer just by our presence, just by simple basic things. Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 25 of people who took this seriously, and gave clothes away, visited prisoners, shared food, and more. They asked, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. They did not see themselves serving God, they were trying to make an impact in their own lives. They had no idea the power of their simple acts of service.

It has been said 90% of care is showing up. Where are you going today? What door might you hold, or conversation might you have, that changes someone’s day, that answers a prayer that you never even knew about?

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What are some people and places you regularly interact with that might be opportunities for you to be God’s ambassador?
  2. Do you have a story of how someone else has been an answer to your prayer unknowingly?